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Redsam I am in misery

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Posted 4/16/2011 3:25 PM (GMT 0)
Hi my healing well family. I am posting a quick update as I get a back rub from my son and just took my am pain drugs! My surgery was Wednesday and I came home Thursday, probably not the best move on their behalf. My surgery was 4 hours, the doc ran late getting in. I woke up in recovery to get a shot of dilaudid and then they sent me up to my room to let the nurses up there deal with me.
They forgot to put in the foley cath during surgery and when I got up to my room at 1pm I was in extreme distress. Hadn't gone since 5am. Well they thought that it would be good for me to walk to the potty and try to use it. WRONG!!!! I have already had bladder surgery so I know when I have passed the point of no return. So it was a complete failure, they ended up walking me back to the bed where I laid crying and breathing like I was having a baby for 45 more minutes. My dear hubby went out and screamed at the nurses to immediately cath me. The head nurse wanted to train a new nurse on bladder scanning and putting in the foley cath. ***.. I don't mind training, but this was an emergency. Needless to say they got 1500cc out. The normal adult bladder is 5-600cc.

The nice thing about the next part is that once they put in the foley, they left it in so I could rest the whole day and night. My pain doc also wrote that my PCA was to be programmed so it would auto dispense the minimum amount even if I did not press the button. NICE. The only rough part is the spasms. The Flexeril was not working, so they gave me oxygen and lidocaine pads for the night, I slept three hours atleast.

But morning came and I was in significant pain, so the nurse switched the Flexeril to Valium and that seemed to help some. Then the mad dash to get me off the pump, on oral and out the door. Pt came in, the speech team to make sure I could swallow pills and food, then the ortho. Then the fight with the pain doc. He did not want to release me with Valium, he wanted me to take Xanaflex. The nurse talked him into letting me go and that I needed to check w/him on Monday. Needless to say I didn't get a full oral test because they were desperate for my bed. UNBELIEVABLE.

I am home with the expected swelling in the throat and still extreme spasms. The part that frustrates me is that I have super phlem and can't get it out or up as coughing makes the spasm worse. Any suggestions? I am using musinex. It is now coming up yellow, but no fever. I got only two hours the first night home, and 3 last night. Can't recline because I choke.

Anyhow, today I get a shower. I have been walking, but now it is raining. We got word yesterday that our happy weekend place in WI is flooding. The water is already up to the back line of our lot there and more rain today....

One little funny, the doc said I must wear my brace out of the house. We want people to steer clear of you. OMG it worked, even with the elderly. They were pushing me forward in line at checkout.... tongue

Keep the prayers, I need them.
Posted 4/16/2011 4:01 PM (GMT 0)

 Dear Red,

    It is good to hear from you.   :-)   Thank you so much for stopping by and giving us an update. Typing must be very painful for you right now. *hugg* I am glad it is finally done and the healing can begin. You have been through a lot and I hope that you finally get some relief.

     I hope there was no damage to your bladder after having to wait so long just to empty. I don't quite understand why they never put one in to begin with? Its sound painful to say the least. I am sorry they were in such a rush to get you out the door. That is very concerning. I was also shocked that after such a major surgery you were given flexiril. smhair   Is the valium still helping your pain? Or is it still extremely high?

     I am not sure what you can do for the build-up in your throat. Yellow is not a good color. Do you use a nebulizer? If not, do you happen to have a humidifier? One might help. Be sure to bring this up with the doctor at your appointment on Monday.

     Hopefully you can get your pain down enough to get in a little bit of rest here and there. Know that you are in our hearts and prayers.

*hugg*
  dani

Posted 4/16/2011 4:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Redsam. Sorry you didn't have a good experience at the hospital. Hopefully it will all be worth it with the long term relief and all. How is the CP pain doing? Can you even tell at this point through everything else? I hope the swelling and spasms go down quickly. Well, I just wanted say hi, wish you the best, and let you know that I'll be praying for you.

-Jeff
Posted 4/16/2011 7:53 PM (GMT 0)
Oh REDSAM

 

My heart goes out to you, you should have never been sent home like that! What is going on with these hospitals now day?  Has medicine be come so incompetent, and blind that the patient has to suffer so?  You  are lucky that your bladder did not burst. I went through a similar situation on my very first dervical fusion in 1985! They could not understand my extreme pelvic pain and attributed it to the graft site on the pelvis. When infact they had not cathed me, and no one bothered to track my out put, and for close to three days they finally realized that I had not urinated. and iit was my bladder that was extended and hard as a rock, and that was the reason for my pain! It is amazing that was over 25 years ago, and they are still making the same types of mistakes! Will they never learn?  Your condition really frightens me REDSAM, please, please, please be careful and if need be, go to your ER at any sign of difficulity!  These next few days are really going to be trying for you! So please take care of your self!

 

I wish you well and will keep you im my prayers! 

 

White Beard

Posted 4/16/2011 8:07 PM (GMT 0)
it is most certainly not funny but i had the same urological nightmare after my first lamiectomy and my brain has blocked all the recolection. for your phlem if you can go to a grocery strore with a small organic section or a healthfood store, the line of medicinal herbal teas is called TRADITIONAL ORGANICS or TRADIOTIONAL HERBALS and they have about 20 types of blends, for your issue they have 2 levels of potency products. i cannot remember the name but it is well labelled. you steep these covered so the volitale oils do not evaporate and squeeze the tea bag gently to get the denser things like roots to give you all it's got. to help your recovery process if you can find the alfalfa root tea it will give you all known vitamins and most minerals. the roots of alfalfa go deeper than most plants or trees, up to 100 feet so they get the vitamin K or zinc and mangenese. you can rotate between the mucus tea and alfalfa. it can be found on the website for the Vitamin Shoppe and 1-day shipping. good luck to you and just relax.
Posted 4/16/2011 8:42 PM (GMT 0)
i forgot to say that vitamin E in the tocotrienol form, esp. gama-tocotrienol and coenyme Q10 in the form of Ubiquinol aids cellular oxygenation. omega-3 is a wound healer, protein is needed to rebuild collagen and appetite is not great after operations, a free-form amino acid complex can get protein building blocks into your system. in paticular L-glutamine helps to clean up cytokyins, (i think), that are released into the blood when muscle trauma happens. MSM and garlic are sulfur compunds that help tissue healing and garlic boost the immune system, Kyolic by Wakanuga is the only one with garlic supplements, it is aged-garlic extract that is odorless and concentrated. esterfied vitamin C or calcium ascorbate can be taken in high doses without bothering the stomach and the body assimlates it very well. if you add in some ALA or "alpha-lipoic acid" you will have a potent antioxidant that recycles vit C AND E and then a bit of N-acetyl-cysteine you have the recipe for Glutathione, the most powerful anti-oxidant we have and we manufacter it ourselves. Acidophilus is useful with heavy anti-biotics.
Posted 4/17/2011 6:48 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Redsma,

I'm so sorry that you're going thru such a rough time. It sounds like you should have stayed another day or two at least. Boy, these hospitals are getting terrible these days. Insurance companies are no better. They don't want to pay for no longer than they have to. This makes me angry. If you have any difficulty, please go to the ER. It's very concerning that you're having yellow phlem. I'm glad you have the appointment with your doctor on Monday. I sure hope you feel better really soon. i will be praying for you. I hope you're feeling better by now so you can get some rest. You take care. You'll be in my thoughts.

love and hugs
Loretta
Posted 4/17/2011 2:13 PM (GMT 0)
Well, update.
I slept a few hours in bed last night with the bed wedge and the humidifier. That seems to have helped my throat. Even though I have a bit of yellow, there is no wheezing or shortness of breath. He sent me home with my regular 4mg of Dilaudid 4 times per day, Valium 3x per day. If I take the Flexoril in place of the Valium, he upped it from 3 to 4 per day. That is it. I already take the Dilaudid and Flexoril, so I don't think they are stepping up for this since I am used to them. Am I just being a baby? I am embarrased at the thought of saying I am still in alot of pain when I read alot of people are off pain meds within a week.
I don't know if the Valium is helping relax my muscles. So I might have to talk with the dr tomorrow. Is Xanaflex better than Flerxoril? I alternate between the flexoril and Valium and the flexoril doesn't do much. I have a major ear ache on the side where they worked. When I swallow and sit up it hurts alot. I have not read much about that so not sure if it is irritation from getting to close...

I am drinking alot, eating some soft stuff but no bm yet. I take two stool softners with each round of meds, I might have to try milk of mag.

Taking a walk outside today. Can't wait.
Posted 4/17/2011 2:28 PM (GMT 0)
Hi REDSAM,

I'm sorry to hear you've been having troubles with recuperation since you got home. Hopefully, you will be able to figure out a good daily routine - and that by following said routine, you recover completely with no lingering side effects.

Hugs,
Pam

ps: I like your "almost last" paragraph in your post just above this one. It says: "I am drinking a lot, etc. etc.". You know where my brain went. :-)
Posted 4/18/2011 10:34 AM (GMT 0)
Redsam, sorry to hear you are having a rough time of it but you have to remember that you had major surgery and it will take time to heal.  I remember after my cervical fusion that my throat was so sore I could hardly eat for about a week.  Never had the flem problem you are talking about so definately keep an eye on it.

My doctor had me wearing the brace any time I was out of bed even in the house at first so do be careful while up and walking.  The last thing you need is a fall or moving your head too much. 

For the constipation miralax always helped me out alot without the terrible cramping that a laxative causes.  You stated that you are using stool softeners which I'd stay on but I'd try something stronger until your muscles down there get working again.  Maybe speak with your pharmacist about something.

Try to rest as much as you can and things will get better as your body heals.  Sounds like a one night stay is the norm for cervical fusion cause that's what I had too. 

Posted 4/18/2011 1:41 PM (GMT 0)
 

       Hello Redsam!

            Just wanted to pop in and say hello, and hope your doing better. Post surgery trama can take quite a while to get past, but once you get there, your days will be brighter and hope will be something you can see again.

            Hang in there, and don't be afraid to ask for more pain relief if needed. Also be very careful with your activities as you don't want to undo the repair to your neck.

         Please stop by as much as you need. We will suport!

      SE wink

Posted 4/18/2011 4:51 PM (GMT 0)
RedSam I wanted to pop on and tell you I am sorry that you are having such a difficult time. Hey, you are not wimping out, let me tell you something, you don't know what all he had to do in there or even found. Each persons surgery is different. Your neck and body really went thru alot of trauma, don't forget that. From what I have been told, the muscle spasms are the biggest culprit causing so much pain after surgery. Once you can get the spasms under control you should feel some better. They are usually just wicked after neck surgery. WhiteBeard had a terrible time with spasms after is surgery. I don't know anyone off pain pills one week post op. Forget that idea. Can you alternate heat/ice on the neck to help with the spasms?

Personally, I think valium works better as a muscle relaxer over any you listed. I do not tolerate or like Flexeril and I loved Zanaflex, it worked great for me. Nearly as good as the valium.

You really need to try some milk of mag to get the plumbing going again and continue with a stool softner so you don't get backed up again. Something that works for many is eating 4-5 prunes a day if you like prunes. You have to be careful and not eat a lot of them or you will have over kill in that area, lol.

Jag gave you some good tips too. I take 8mg of Dilaudid for BT pain with my pain pump. If I am not doing too bad I cut it in half and make it a 4mg, this is with my drs approval.

I think you should call and at least talk to your nurse at the drs office and let her know how bad you are hurting. I hope you are not getting an ear infection since you do have some color in the flem.
Posted 4/18/2011 7:08 PM (GMT 0)
RedSam, sure hope your feeling better soon...so sorry about what the hospital did to you,
that was indeed horrible.
Lots of Prayers and well wishes coming your ways....
((((((((((((((((((((((((((((RedSam)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
thinking of you...
Posted 4/19/2011 4:51 AM (GMT 0)
Dear Redsam, I am sorry for all the pain you are going thru. Take little steps at a time

and you will heal that must quicker. Keep your headup girl and do it one day at a time.

Thinking of you
Suzane
Posted 4/19/2011 1:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hi my HW family. Yesterday I called the pain doc and the staff immediately got me in within an hour of my call. Yayyyyyy. I did not even have to say anything, the doc walked in and saw my tears and trembling lip, and gave me the pouty lip right back and said we will fix this for you. I want to see smiles not tears. So he changed my meds to 8mg Dilaudid 2pills at a time 4 times per day and gave me 8mg of Xanaflex 2 times per day. It WORKED... The pain went way down and the spazms relaxed.

I called the surgeons office and asked if I could sleep in my bed on my side with my cervical pillow. He said I could as long as I use common sense when it starts to hurt or be uncomfortable, change slowly to another position. So for the first time since surgery I slept on my side with my special pillow and slept for 8 hours before pain pills needed to be taken. It felt SOOOOO good, and as you can tell my spirit is good today as well.

I also got a special treat from my youngest son (11) today, he made me scrambled eggs and cheese for breakfast before he went to school. My oldest son (16) supervised.

The humidifier and the xanaflex seems to have helped my throat as well, swallowing seemed easier today.

Well that's it for now.

Sue
Posted 4/19/2011 3:26 PM (GMT 0)

  Dear Sue,

    Oh my gosh! *hugg* This is just fantastic news! I am so glad you were able to get some much deserved help. You have been in exhausting pain for so long and it was such a relief to see this post from you today. Cant forget the wonderful surprise breakfast either. Your family sounds like they love you very very much. I hope you are able to continue resting as much as possible. We will still keep you in our prayers. Hang in there and stay strong!!

*hugg*
   dani

Posted 4/19/2011 3:46 PM (GMT 0)
Wow, now that is a good dr looking out for his patient. I am so glad to hear that the adjustment in the meds did the trick. Just being able to get some decent rest is so important to your recovery.

Take care.
Posted 4/19/2011 6:18 PM (GMT 0)
Wow, so glad your starting to feel a little better...
Hope you continue to get good pain control...more well wishes and
healing hugz
Posted 4/20/2011 3:45 AM (GMT 0)
REDSAM

 

I was so happy to read your last post! I am so glad you got in so quickly to see your pain doctor and he took car of you! Straydaog is right, you were not wimping out, everyone is so different, and who knows what all your doctor did when he was in there!  You know when I had my last surgery last November I had a heck of a time with pain and spasms, I was in the hospital eight days, and then a rehab facility for a couple more! They had really hard time controlling my pain, and the spasms. Heck I did not know untill my follow-up appointment many weeks later, that they had put two rods in my neck to stabablize it.  No wonder I was so stiff and having spasms. The thing I am trying to tell you, maybe the reason for your pain and spasms is maybe  he had allot of stuff to do in there. So just make sure if you start having, more pain or if something does not seem right to you, that you make sure you get with your Doctor right away! It might be nothing but again it might be important, and we all need to have you back with us, healed up and in good shape!

 

I am glad your feeling better, I wish you well!

 

White Beard

Posted 4/27/2011 1:31 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry it has taken me some time to get back to you all. I typed a reply the other day and poof my screen jumped and it was gone. Grrrr. Here is where we are at...
I was still having pain in my neck (felt like my neck was a tree and a lumberjack was hacking at the base). Like most still could not find a comfy spot in the bed for the whole night. I would end up waking at 2am with worst neck pain/stiffness or butt numbness). So I would end up in the reclyner until I could take my next batch of meds 4 to 6 am. Over the weekend starting Saturday I ended up having a spasm in my right shoulder/elbow and back that would make me cry started at about 3pm and would escalate until I would lay down with icepacks. Then another one on Sunday at Easter dinner so we had to go home. On Saturday my feet and calves began to swell up and are still pudgy although not as bad as Sunday night. Rolling his eyes, my husband looked at them and said there was nothing wrong. My hubby and kids have grown tired of helping me and I am now a bother. mad Needless to say my mood is very foul now and I am afraid to be concerned.

So Had my follow up with my pain doc this past Monday, I am finally in a getting to a good state of relief I think. He added MS Contin to my treatment to help with break through. So he tweaked all my meds as follows: 8mg Dilaudid 2 pills 4 times a day. Xanaflex 8mg 1 pill 3 times a day and MS Contin 15mg 3 times per day. I had my girlfriend come in with me to make sure I had a good brain in the room. I am glad too. When I told my husband he was upset with me and the dr. "Shouldn't you be tapering down now not adding? You are going to become wacked out and addicted" OBVIOUSLY HE IS SO OUT OF TOUCH WITH ME. My girlfriend tried to give it a positive spin and said he was more concerned and doing his job as a husband. It would really be much worse if he just sat back and didn't say anything. I guess... We will see... Any way I have consistency now pain wise. Here are my concerns, because I know you all care.

Feet are still a little swollen, no hot spots, no discoloration and I am going potty normally. Not eating or drinking salty stuff. Pain doc said if it continues to follow up with GP. I walk as much as I can, but obviously not as much as pre-surgery. Yesterday I soaked in epsom water. Not sure if it helped.

I might have an infection starting at the site of the arterial line. There is still a bump under the scab which got bigger. No fevers.

Steri-strips are still on and bug me.

I can not cough without significant pain at the incision site and in a straight line across to the right side of my neck. Incision is on the left side. Coughing occurs only in the morning or if I take too big a bite of food or a pill gets stuck in the special spot.

I want to end on a good note so here are some positives I am focusing on.
I have most of my voice and can eat anything as long as it is in small bits and I chew chew chew.
Still no pain or numbness like pre-surgery.
Not too much stifness.
Pain was controlled well today with the new pills and schedule. I was able to sit long enough to play on the computer for a short bit today.

Hugs to you all.
Posted 4/27/2011 3:09 AM (GMT 0)
RedSam I am glad that you have updated us on where you are at. I am afraid your husband has no clue what you have gone through surgery wise, makes me wish he could have a good 24 hours of what you have been going thru and then lets see who is hollering about medication, lol. Once you get yourself in a good healing process there is always the chance of needing less medication but until you get there don't worry about how much you are needing for now. The trauma of that surgery and what the body goes through is incredible.

Do keep an eye out on the feet swelling. If it continues, then perhaps a visit to your PCP is in order. Sometimes they can give a light dose of Lasix to get the fluid off. Lasix stopped working for me years ago and I take a med now called Bumex and really have to watch it, I get terrible charley horses in my thighs with it. You haven't lived till you get a charley horse in the thigh, lol.

For now, just take good care of yourself and listen to what your dr tells you. You have been through a very difficult surgery as WhiteBeard will testify to. It is going to take some time before you really start feeling good. The muslces spasms can really make us miserable. Take care and keep us posted.
Posted 4/27/2011 4:07 AM (GMT 0)
i'm so glad to see you post again RED. It sounds like your dr. got you fixed up where you're not in so much pain. That's great. I've never had neck surgery, so I don't know what it's like. I have had my gallbladder out and a tonsillectomy when I was 11. That tonsillectomy was bad. You take care of yourself and tell you hubby not to be so hard on you. You've just had surgery and you need time to heal. That your body had trauma, and you need the meds until you're healed enough to start weaning down. That's my advice. I'm not trying to be bossy. Just wanted to let you know that I'm here for you too.

love and hugs
Loretta
Posted 4/27/2011 4:11 AM (GMT 0)
Hi REDSAM

 

It is great to see your up-date. It sounds like you are better but still having lots of problems with pain, well you have had one heck of a surgery, and this one will take some time. I can only tell you to be patient with yourself, you will heal but it will take time! The pain will ease up to, but will also take time, I know the spasms are bad, and I am on 30 mg of Baclofen every 8 hours and have been on that for quite some time and I still had problems with spasms, but they to will ease up and go away with time. I know this has been a tough one for you, but please  post and keep us up-dated as you can! We all care about you, and support you during your healing! I hope you continue to improve, if you could give your husband some of your pain you would not need to have your pain meds increased.  But then he would want them! smilewinkgrin   Sounds like maybe he could use a refresher course in pain management. But to be honest I think your girl friend might be on to something, I am sure your husband is just concerned about your welfare! Just remember you can always come her and vent when you are frustrated about your pain, we will be glad to listen! 

 

Healing thought to you!

 

White Beard

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